The Word is Filibuster

[unapatriciated]

McCain is now claiming it is all the Dems fault, after all they have been in control for the last two years.
I have another word for McCain, Obstructionists.
Why isn't the media calling him on this?

http://commonsense-gater.blogspot.com/2008/07/republicans-set-new-record-for-blocking.html
Even though the Democrats seldom used it their advantage, the Republicans in the Senate had gripped for years about the Democrats capability of using the "filibuster" when the Democrats had their long-time, large Senate majority. But today, now that the Democrats have the potential to gain their Senate majority back in the coming November elections, the Republicans are actually following through on what they had complained about when the Democrats previously had the ability to stop any legislation by using the age-old "filibuster method".

Since the Democrats won their razor-thin majority back in 2006, the Republicans have now used the filibuster a record 80 times to halt any legislation offered by the Democrats. Even with the small majority of 51 to 49 that the Senate Democrats have today, it still takes 60 votes to pass a Senate bill that would also over-ride a possible filibuster or a presidential veto. Based on these numbers, the Republican Senate leadership has decided to only "rarely" allow any "moderate" Republicans to vote on the Democratic side of an issue, whether the legislation is good for the country or not. All the Republican Senators have to do today is open up the debate on the Senate floor and keep it going until the Democrats eventually give in and give up. This action virtually stops the bill in its tracks, and they then move on to other bills or new business.

THE REPUBLICANS & THE "FILIBUSTER" TODAY, 2008:
Today, the filibuster is used by the Republicans as a routine measure on virtually every bill and it is used on bills where there is a Republican consensus as a tactic to just slow things down. As stated by Norm Ornstein, a congressional expert with the American Enterprise Institute; "The continuous use of the filibuster is sending Congress' approval rating down into the sewer, but it is also sending each of the Republican Senators even further into the sewer."

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/republican-obstructionism-a-re.php

* Senate Republicans have obstructed almost every bill in the Senate - even ones with wide bipartisan support.

* So far, in the first half of the first session of the 110th Congress, there have been THIRTEEN cloture votes on motions to proceed - each one wasting days of Senate time. (110th Congress, Roll Call Votes #44, 51, 53, 74, 129, 132, 133, 162, 173, 207, 208, 227, and 228)
* In comparison, in the first sessions of the 108th and 109th Congresses combined, there were a total of FOUR cloture votes on motions to proceed.

EIGHT times Republican obstruction tactics slowed critical legislation

* Fulfilling the 9/11 Commission Recommendations (Passed 97-0, Roll Call Vote #53)
* Improving security at our courts ( Passed 93-3, Roll Call Vote #133)
* Water Resources Development Act (Passed 89-7, Roll Call Vote #162)
* A joint resolution to revise U.S. policy in Iraq (Passed 89-9, Roll Call Vote, #74)
* Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Passed 69-23, Roll Call Vote #173)
* Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Passed 64-35, Roll Call Vote #228)
* CLEAN Energy Act ( Passed 91-0, Roll Call Vote #208)
* Funding for the Intelligence Community (Passed 94-3, Roll Call Vote #129)

FOUR times Republicans blocked legislation from being debated

* Senate Republicans blocked raising the minimum wage. (54-43, Roll Call Vote #23)
* Senate Republicans blocked ethics reforms (Rejected 51-46, Roll Call Vote #16)
* Senate Republicans blocked comprehensive immigration reform (Rejected 45-50, Roll Call Vote #206)
* Senate Republicans blocked funding for renewable energy (Rejected 57-36, Roll Call Vote #223)

FOUR times Republicans stopped bills from reaching a vote

* Senate Republicans blocked funding for the intelligence community. ( Rejected 41-40, Roll Call Vote #130)
* Senate Republicans blocked raising the minimum wage. (54-43, Roll Call Vote #23)
* Senate Republicans blocked ethics reforms (Rejected 51-46, Roll Call Vote #16)
* Senate Republicans blocked funding for renewable energy (Rejected 57-36, Roll Call Vote #223)

TWICE Republicans blocked bills from going to conference

* Senate Republicans blocked appointing conferees on the 9/11 Commission Recommendations (6/26/07)
* Senate Republicans blocked appointing conferees on ethics reform ( 6/26/07)

[silverweb]

1. This is critically important.

The Dems have had the barest of slim majorities, which is hardly being "in control."

This has to be emphasized over and over.